Archive for June, 2007

ABPS NEW YORK UPDATE: If you recall from the previous posts (Disposable Doctors 2, “Fighting to Level Playing Field”),in December 2006, the ABPS filed a complaint against officials of the New York Department of Health and Department of Education claiming arbitrary denial of recognition as a legitimate certifying body in New York State. The motion to dismiss the case will most likely be denied and the case will move forward , unless any machinations by the opposing side derail our efforts. If successful, this case will open the door for non-ER trained, non-ABEM certified ER physicians to continue their careers and maintain their livelihoods in New York. It is critical that there be a show of support from the ER community during the hearing so that the judge can see that his ruling affects so many lives.
The hearing will take place at:June 15, 2007, 9AM, Judge Charles I. Brieant
United States District Court
Southern District of New York
300 Quarropas Street
White Plains, NY 10601-4150
corner of Quirropas and Lexington,White Plains, New York, 6 story red brick building, 2nd floor only judge with court on that floor. GET INVOLVED, ABPS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
Link: AAPS Reply to Motion to Dismiss

FLORIDA UPDATE: The bill sponsored by ACEP and AAEM in Florida in February, which would have allowed ONLY physicians with residency/ fellowship training in a specialty to say that they are board-certified in that specialty was defeated. This means that Florida (as well as Oklahoma and Utah, and hopefully soon New York and North Carolina) continues to recognize ABPS board certification.

ABPS also successfully defeated a resolution sponsored by the Nebraska board of Medicine and Surgery at the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), an association of state licensing authorities, to recognize the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as the ONLY certifying board for medical specialties (excluding the AOA, ABPS, and other non-ABMS boards) in ALL states.

The progress made shows that with hard work, vigilance, and organization; it is possible to fight back. The Institute of Medicine report (see Annals of Emergency Med article below) validates the country’s need for non-ABEM, non- ER residency trained ER docs to continue meeting the needs of the public. Thanks and kudos to our colleagues at ABPS and their legal team. But these are only the initial skirmishes, there is still much to be done.